Folding coop.



Painted Sept. n, 1900.

No. 657,56l".

O. L.& W. A. NEAL.

FOLDING GOOP.

' (Application filed Jan. 12, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 657,56l. 1. Patented Sept. ll, I900.

C. L. & W. A. NEAL. Q

FOLDING COOP. (Application filed. Jan. 12, 1900. (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.. 4.9

. a -Z 1: 2413329518, WWW ZMJM SM Q q out in the claims hereto appended.

marginal flanges or walls, which strengthen UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oHAn Es NEAL AND WILLIAM A. NEJAJL', or BUNGERS, WEST VIRGINIA.

Forums oooP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,561 dated September 11, 1900.

Application filed January 12, 1900. 7 Serial No. 1,236. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern; a

Beit known that we, CHARLES L. NEAL and WILLIAM A. NEAL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Bungers, in the county of Greenbrier and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Folding Coop, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in folding coops.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction of poultry-coops and to provide a simple and comparatively-- inexpensive one capable of being compactly folded upon its bottom, so that it will not occupy any more floor-space when folded than when in use.

Further objects of the invention are to enable the coop to be securely locked in its unfolded or operative position, to prevent it from accidentally collapsing, to afford ready means of access to its interior, and toenable it to be conveniently cleaned.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding coop constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in position for use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of folding the coop. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, the parts being folded.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 designates a solid bottom provided at its side and end edges with bars 2 and 3, forming the coop and retain the feed and prevent the feet of the poultry from protruding through the sides and endsof the coop. The side and end bars 2 and 3, which are nailed or otherwise secured to the bottom, are connected and supported at their ends by corner-irons 4, which prevent them from separating or splitting; but they may be reinforced in any other suitable manner. The ends 5 of the coop, which may be constructed of stout wire or other suitable material, are hinged to the bottom 1, at the upper face thereof, and are hinged by means of metal straps or plates 7,

bent to form eyes for the reception of the bottom wires of the ends 5 and extended beneath the lower edges of the end bars 3. The lower portions of the straps or plates"? are secured to the upper face of the body, and their outer portions are fastened to the outer faces of the end bars 3. By this construction the straps or plates 7 not only hinge the ends to the bottom, but they also support the end bars and strengthen the coop.

The sides are hinged to the upper edges of the side bars by straps or leaves 8, having substantially U-shaped upper portions and horizontal bottom portions, which are extended inward on the lower face of the bottom of the coop. The upper U-shaped portions embrace the side bars 2 and are secured to the inner and outer faces thereof, the bends of the U shaped portions forming eyes for the reception of the bottom wires of the sides,

When the sides are swung upward to arrange the coop for use,,their upper portions fit between the adjacent portions of the ends 5 and form stops which prevent the latter from col to form guides for the ends of the coop. The

top wires of the ends 5 of the coop extend between the guide-wires and the top of the coop, and the said ends are adapted to fold inward and downward, and they carry with them the top, which is adapted to fit within thespace inclosed by the side and end bars, as clearly opposite sides of the center with bowed por-v tions 11, which permit the necessaryflpl'ayofi the ends in folding and unfolding the coop. The topof the coop, which may be con 'strncted'cf any suitable material, is prise?- pally composed of longitudinal slats orbars;

which are connected by end bars 18 ,166?- structed of sheet metal and folded longitudisuitable material; which ishenfi td forin transverse pimleand inner andou'fe'ii arms 1 4mm 15. The transverse pintle Whichex? isjiin'g'ed to the same byst'a'plesoi -olihershit 1 able'iheans, and t heou'ter arriie'zitendsdowii= Ward and engag'esthe o'utei faceof the adj cent side 6; The inner arm 14,.v'vhic'h issu mummy L-shap'ed, constitutes a'haiidle'aiid is adapted to be readil 'g'mspedto-swing the outer a-rin' upward out of engagement With" the Side, the'u pw'a ld ihOK/h'llifidf tllddlifhi am being limited by astop oi projection ni'oiiht'ed on the outer eageof theadja'cen'tr Slater bar, as clearly illustrated in- Figs-'1 The;

- upward'andembedded in the adjacent 51st;

the terminals beingpreferably passed-through the slats or bars and cle'n'ched agaiilstthe 1115 per faces thereof. The inner art-[1151's 625- ended outwa d slightly, so that the space-er" whentlieyare' out of engagement with the Salim; Wliieby Wlieil the faislieiiel isms-fight 1 toits eiigag'ing position it Willexert ab's'pl iiig clamping action oh thesl'at or bar'and be 7 thereby prevefited from he'ccmin'g a cadestally disengaged tiher'efroih By this con stiuctiou there is'no liahilityof the coop-ac: ciden'tally' collapsing after it has been at rang d ih'posi tio n' for use. Also astnam 15* ofthe fastener is'arrangswbelowtheplans of the topwlopf the' cbepmiothem bpother object above" it and resting nponi t ne ingft he'sidesa The cehtralslat19 i'spre'ferably of greater The 2 width-thanthepth'er slats-orbars of the top, "iii' 'oi dei that w hen its ciitraPptSrtiOn is cut away, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3- 0f the drawings, a door-opening 200i sufficient size wmbe provided. The slats orbars are supported at opposite sidesfi-the opening'20 "m-ansvei-"se fods 21, which are sf'apledor otherwise secured to their upper faces. The jdoofis pfieferably constructed of a single piece of stout'wire bent to form a series of reverselyarranged approximately U -shaped loops and forming? co'tnpi eis's'ible door 22, .5 which is adapted to be readily grasped by the dper'atcmnd' compressed tolock and unlock it. The'sides of theloops form parallel rods, and one end rod23passss'through sraples or 24amfo msttpimlefor the door. The

end rod has its terir'iinal 26' bent outga giingtlieadjacent transverserod 21; which fo'rmsakeeper. Tha -transverse portions or rods of the resilient compressibl doorfortri a; cofivhieh't' grip and are ada'ptedjto be'iead- 'f ily grasped by the hand of the operator.

overthe, top10, which s provided Wit-hapivm'gdevice; which is substantially L-sha ed; consists of a vertical shank and a; horizontal farm which isjaiittpted toeligag'eiboth-of the r'ange'd foruse By'swingmg the ends" upward Zaiitt outward and locking the sides against the top; a r a I It will be seen; t-h" t tliefco'op' is'f'exceedifigly simple and inexp nsive in: consti uctiongthat it" ficss'essesgreat strength and durability, a m that'itmay" teeompactiy folded in a solid ftii ih Whichdo s not oceiipy' m're floor-space than the coop whmr'n ifomed and mus It will-aiso be appareiit hat the marginal-1 side antl iitlbars iiot only'reihfoiceand-stfeligthen the deep, But that th 'alfsdforfiirwallsto' re taiiiitli'e fe'd and {are v ,from-pro eetifi 'byo theco'op-and that a siinpleandeficieh'fidoof is proviaeai 'Fu'rthe hioi e; it 'wi ill be that the sides and ends of the coop are securely locked in po's'i tioii fon-usea 'fid' thjafionIy one fastenin devibe is employs-d ier retaining" the paits in their-folded position. H

whafl isclaiiued is when; an the latter'areswiing inward 1. A? def ic'e' of" EheeMssd'escri'bed'comprisliiii-geifsides, arranged to swing upward be tweenmeends, a top having the ends slidinglycorifie'cted with it, andfasteniugdevices mounted on thetopiailiil consisting each of a transverse pines ortion, outer a m for engagi'iig'tlie side; and an iiiii'er a-rni forming a lie-ladies id fare.ifen' iii'g devices bieing' resili- 'e'nftarid. al-da ed to clampt-headjace'nt portibns of the tophetweefn h'einner and o'iitie'r' arms, substantially as described.

2-. A device of the'class'desctibed com rising a bottom, sides and ends hinged to the bottom, a top com posed of slats or bars spaced apart, said top being slidingly connected with the ends, fastening devices mounted on the top and provided with inner and outer arms adapted to clamp the adjacent slats or bars, the outer arm being also adapted to engage the side of the coop and the inner arm forming a handle, projections extending from the side edges of the top to limit the upward movement of the outer arms, and transverse wires arranged to support the inner arms, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a bottom, sides, ends, a top provided with an opening, and a compressible resilient door hinged to the top at one side and provided at its opposite side with means for detachably engaging the top, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprisingacoop provided with an opening, and a resilient compressible door hinged at one side' of the opening and constructed ofa continuous wire or rod and provided at the opposite side of the opening with means for engaging the coop, said wire or rod being bent or looped.

to form a compressible resilient door, sub stantially as described.

5. A device of the class described'comprising a coop having a slatted top provided with an opening, said top being also provided with transverse rods located at opposite sides of the opening, and a resilient compressible door hinged at one side of the opening and provided with an arm arranged to engage the arm at the opposite side of the opening, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. NEAL. WILLIAM A. NEAL.

Witnesses:

A. M. MOLAUGHLIN, AQUILA LIPPS. 

